Ford to release speedy 50th anniversary edition of Mustang Cobra Jet

Most powerful and quickest factory version to arrive later this year

A new edition of an old friend will roar down drag strips later this year when Ford releases the 50th anniversary edition of the Mustang Cobra Jet.

The company said the 2018 edition will be the most powerful and quickest version ever released by the factory. It was expected to be able to run the quarter-mile somewhere in the mid-8-second range and should top 150 mph in the process.

That power will be generated by a supercharged 5.2-liter Coyote V8 tuned for performance. A Ford 9-inch sold rear axle designed by Strange Engineering and a unique four-link rear suspension will keep the tires firmly on the track.

Other modifications will include a National Hot Rod Association-certified roll cage, Racetech FIA seats and specially designed Weld Racing Wheels.

“From the very first Mustang Cobra Jets dominating the 1968 NHRA Winternationals to our modern-day Cobra Jet racers, the Ford Performance Parts team continues to build the Cobra Jet brand based on its success at the track over five decades,” Eric Cin, the global director for Ford Performance Parts, said in a news release.

“That, in turn, has inspired generations of Mustang fans to create their own performance machines for the street.”

The latest Cobra Jet will feature some of the original 1968 options, such as a paint choice between Race Red or Oxford White. Special 50th anniversary badges and graphics will also be available.

Production will be limited to just 68 cars that will not be street legal. Ordering and product specifications were expected to be released this summer.